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Time of India
9 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Death Is Inevitable. How We Live Matters
In recent months, we have witnessed several heartbreaking tragedies. Many dreams have been snuffed out in seconds. Reminding us how transient life is. While the ones who are grieving come to terms with reality, it allows us to reflect on larger premise of life and death . In the Mahabharat, the Yaksh asked Yudhishthir what is the most wondrous thing in the world. Yudhishthir replied, "We see countless dying, but it does not occur to us that we will also die one day." We don't realise that death is also stalking us like a shadow. The love and clinging to the beautiful world leave us no scope to reflect on how transitory life is. Swami Vivekananda says, "The great dream is love; we are all going to love and be loved, we are all going to be happy and never meet with misery, but the more we go towards happiness, the more it goes away from us." We are so enamoured by the good life, fulfilling our aspirations, that the higher thinking eludes us. Adi Shankaracharya , in Bhaja Govindam, says, "Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come and go again." Each day, our lifespan reduces, yet the gust of desire and hope never leaves the human heart. We need to develop a spiritual vision . We must use the body to evolve spiritually and prepare ourselves for the next journey, ultimately realising the Divine within. The truth is, we are not the body. Krishn tells Arjun, in verse 2.13 of the Bhagwad Gita , "Just as the embodied soul continuously passes from childhood to youth to old age, similarly, at the time of death, the soul passes into another body. The wise are not deluded by this." It is estimated that within seven years, all cells of the body change, yet we perceive that we are the same. That is because we are not the material body, but the spiritual soul seated within. Through a spiritual purpose, our thoughts, motivations, words, and actions change. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Until the clinging reduces, we experience fear of facing death. At the moment of final exit, most will encounter a severe jolt. Swami Vivekananda's description of this moment is poignant. He says, "The world vanishes in a moment and is gone. Standing on the brink of a precipice beyond which is the infinite yawning chasm, every mind, however hardened, is bound to recoil and ask, 'Is this real?' The hopes of a lifetime, built up little by little with all energies of a great mind, vanish in a second. Are they real?" We must accept death. Let us love our family and friends as a trustee of the Lord. Let us fulfil our aspirations, break boundaries, and expand our lives. Let us work for others and contribute to society with time and money. Fear of death will slowly vanish. Humanistic impulses will flourish. Let us remember Tulsidas' famous couplet, "When we come into the world, we cry and the world laughs. Our time and actions in the world should be such that when we leave, the world cries and we laugh." Authored by: Arijit Ray Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
Time of India
03-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Living mindfully in times of chaos
By Minoru Harada We are living in an age of ceaseless turbulence. In such times, the mind easily spirals into anxiety and impulsive reactions. Trying to achieve emotional stability while facing rough seas of society could be one of the reasons why living mindfully – pausing to reflect – is gaining popularity. The 13th-century Buddhist priest Nichiren urged us to 'become masters of our minds, rather than letting our minds master us', teaching the importance of building an unwavering self that is not swayed by the fickle nature of human emotions. These days, the constant barrage of information often leads to mental exhaustion. In contrast, the Buddhist principle of mastering one's mind empowers us to reclaim our mental focus. It could be defined as the discipline of directing our attention to the present, free from the weight of past regrets or future fears. In doing so, we begin to tap into our own innate wisdom and compassion – igniting an inner transformation that reshapes how we relate to ourselves and others. Mahabharat offers a profound example of mindful leadership through the story of Yudhishthir and Yaksh. Confronted with the sudden loss of his brothers and a life-or-death challenge from a mysterious being, Yaksh, Yudhishthir does not act out of fear or grief. Instead, he quietens his mind and responds with thoughtful clarity. When given the chance to revive just one brother, he does not choose one of his most powerful brothers but instead selects his stepbrother Nakul, showing consideration toward his mother and his stepmother. Moved by this choice, the Yaksh eventually revived all of Yudhishthir's brothers. This was because Yudhishthir's decision was not driven by emotion, but by concern for others, demonstrating not only selfcontrol but also deep compassion and commitment to justice. This story reminds us that true mindfulness is more than staying calm – it is using that calm to act with wisdom and a sense of social responsibility. In times of chaos, it is easy to be swayed by fear or self-interest. But when we become the master of our mind, our inner state expands, and we can tap into and act on our wisdom. Even in difficult times, when we act with compassion, we can contribute to a more harmonious world. On a daily basis, we face such crossroads, where the chaos of our turbulent times demands thoughtful, value-based responses. Anchoring the mind is the first step toward true happiness and fulfilment. Buddhism encourages us to go further. It is not enough only to seek personal tranquility or detachment. A more fulfilling way to live is to build a towering and indestructible state of life, with the spirit of growing together with others and contributing to a more humane society. Then even adversity can become an opportunity to create value. In the words of my mentor, Soka Gakkai international president Daisaku Ikeda, 'As we work for the greater good, we build happiness for ourselves and others. The more we do for other people, the more path of our own happiness will open up.' The writer is president, Soka Gakkai, a global community-based Buddhist organisation Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
